On June 21st, BEJMA joined Propa City’s 2025 Family Restoration Day!
The event was held at Dr. Loesch Family Park, and it was a day of healing, family fun, and resources for the whole community.
Propa City’s commitment to healing, commUNITY, education, and advocacy is an impactful commitment to health equity and reproductive justice, and we were grateful to be an event sponsor!
Celebrating Black Maternal Health Week 2025
Black Maternal Health Week 2025
This week BEJMA is celebrating Black Maternal Health Week and the inspiring work of organizations that are advancing reproductive justice and birth equity to address the disparities in health outcomes for Black birthing people.
With the rate of Black pregnancy-related mortality 3 to 4 times higher than the rate for non-Hispanic White birthing people, BEJMA is working collaboratively across the silos of maternal health to foreground equity in maternal health policy and build community power through a lens of justice. We envision a racially just and equitable world in which birthing people experience health, joy, and bodily autonomy!
On Monday, April 14th, BEJMA Steering Committee Member Shenell Ford co-organized a public forum titled “Expanding Maternal Health Access in Springfield”.
BEJMA Co-Chair Dr. Jallicia Jolly spoke at the event, covering the recently passed Maternal Health Bill, including its key legislative highlights and focus on equity initiatives. She elevated the work of those on the frontlines of advocacy, coalition-building, and mobilization that shaped the bill’s passage and how it addresses equity in practice.
Thank you Jallicia and Shenell for highlighting this important win! And deep gratitude to Heart2Heartbeat Lactation & Wellness and Women of Color Health Equity Collective (WOCHEC) for amplifying birth equity and justice!
Blue Cross Blue Shield Massachusetts Health Justice Partnership and Grant Program
Another Big Win for BEJMA!
We’re beyond excited to share that BEJMA has been invited to Blue Cross Blue Shield MA’s Health Justice Partnership and Grant Program! The program provides wrap around support to organizations advancing health justice across the Commonwealth. A huge THANK YOU to BCBSMA for investing in our work.
With this grant, we’re ready to make an even bigger impact - stay tuned for what’s next!
Blue Cross Blue Shield Massachusetts Foundation Perinatal Health Initiative Grant
Exciting News!
We’re thrilled to announce that BEJMA has been awarded the Perinatal Health Initiative Grant to further our vision of a racially just & equitable world with health, joy, & bodily autonomy for birthing people. 🎉
We’re beyond grateful to the Blue Cross Blue Shield Massachusetts Foundation for believing in our work. Together, we’re creating real change! Stay tuned for updates on how this funding will make a difference.
BEJMA's March Newsletter
Welcome our new Co-Chair, Soraya DosSantos, and thank you to our outgoing Co-Chair, Yaminah Romulus
BEJMA is excited to announce the appointment of Soraya DosSantos as our new co-chair. Thank you to outgoing co-chair Yaminah Romulus for her exceptional leadership and unwavering commitment.
Read moreHappy New Year from BEJMA!
Blue Cross Blue Shield Massachusetts Health Justice Partnership Reception
On December 4th, several of BEJMA’s Steering Committee members were honored to attend the Blue Cross Blue Shield Massachusetts Health Justice Partnership Reception to reflect on a year of impact, collaboration, and change.
Thank you to BCBSMA for their support! Collaboration is at the heart of BEJMA, and we’re so grateful for everyone who makes this work possible. Here’s to an even greater impact in the year ahead!
Maternal Health Omnibus/Birthing Justice Bill is signed into Massachusetts law!
Featured image credit: Stefanie Belnavis of Birthlooms
On Monday, August 26th, the historic Maternal Health Omnibus, aimed at reducing racial inequities in maternal outcomes, was signed into state law by Governor Maura Healey surrounded by reproductive justice advocates and coalition members. BEJMA was honored to be at the ceremonial signing to celebrate the passage of the bill.
Read moreBirth Equity and Justice Massachusetts’ Inaugural Newsletter: September 9th, 2024
Read on to learn more about what BEJMA has recently accomplished!
July Advocacy Day for the Critical Maternal Health Package
On July 10th, a coalition of over 40 midwives, doulas, public health experts, and reproductive justice advocates convened at the Massachusetts Statehouse to advocate for the urgent passage of the critical maternal health package.
Read moreBEJMA's First Steering Committee Retreat
The BEJMA steering committee had our first group retreat in May 2024! We gathered at the beautiful Boston Nature Center in Mattapan and shared space, energy, ideas, challenges, and movement.
Read moreBEJMA co-chairs Yaminah Romulus and Dr. Jallicia Jolly featured at Boston Women's Fund Reproductive Justice Symposium
BEJMA is so excited for our co-chairs Dr. Jallicia Jolly and Yaminah Romulus to speak at Boston Women’s Fund’s Reproductive Justice Symposium,“Where Do We Go From Here” on April 22! We and fellow BWF grantee partners, Melanin Mass Moms, and Propa City Community Outreach, have been advisors for this event and will be sitting on a panel to uplift a crucial grassroots perspective. The day will also feature a keynote address from the international Queen Mother of Midwifery, Shafia Monroe, and an interactive action session where we’ll discuss together, with policymakers and funders, what’s next in the movement.
Read moreBEJMA co-hosts Birthing Justice screening and panel at the State House
On April 8, 2024, Birth Equity & Justice Massachusetts hosted a Black Maternal Health Week event at the Massachusetts State House in partnership with the Massachusetts Black and Latino Legislative Caucus, Bay State Birth Coalition, and the Center for Black Maternal Health and Reproductive Justice.
Read moreBoston Women's Fund Fall Grantee Gathering
In October 2023, BEJMA had the honor of meeting with BWF’s staff & other grantee partners leading grassroots work and systems change! It was such a rewarding experience to be surrounded by great leaders doing amazing work in our community.
Read moreBoston Globe - August 10, 2023, Boston-based maternal health organizations get funding boost to help cover cost of doulas, other supports
Boston Globe - August 10, 2023
Boston-based maternal health organizations get funding boost to help cover cost of doulas, other supports: Three local organizations receive $75,000 in grants for their work addressing the maternal health crisis
Read moreHaitian & Latinx Migrants Need Your Help
Over 150 Haitian & Latine migrant families seeking asylum are being temporarily housed at the Clarion Hotel in Taunton, Massachusetts. Taunton is a maternity desert, meaning pregnant and birthing migrants are experiencing a public health crisis due to lack of social supports, maternity and postpartum resources, and quality nutrition. As a result, migrants are experiencing increased incidences of depression, high blood pressure, anemia, and gestational diabetes.
BEJMA is working with various organizations in the Massachusetts area to collect donations in the coming weeks.
How you can help: If you are able, please consider purchasing supplies from this Amazon Registry, contributing to the GoFundMe, signing up to volunteer, or bringing requested items to our drop-off locations.
Read moreNew Name, Mission, and Vision →
In August 2022, we adopted a new name, “Birth Equity & Justice Massachusetts (BEJMA)” and updated our mission and vision as part of our strategic planning process.
Read our new mission and vision statements.
Read moreBlue Cross Blue Shield of MA Foundation Grant →
The Massachusetts COVID-19 Maternal Equity Coalition is proud to announce that we won a 2021 Special Initiatives grant from the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation in the amount of $25,000. This funding will enable MCMEC to conduct a strategic planning process that aims to further develop our multi-sectoral, interdisciplinary, community-driven group devoted to improving the health outcomes of BIPOC birthing people across the state.
Read moreAnnual Massachusetts Maternal Health Equity Community Town Hall on June 3, 2021
On June 3rd from 12:30 pm until 2 pm, the Coalition will host our annual Massachusetts Maternal Health Equity Community Town Hall (virtual) in partnership with the Betsy Lehman Center for Patient Safety and the Perinatal-Neonatal Quality Improvement Network of Massachusetts (PNQIN). Our collective goal is to improve maternal health for Black and Brown birthing people during COVID-19 in the Commonwealth by centering the experiences and stories of our community.
Read more